: [s-cars] Charging right along

[Peter Schulz]

At 11:48 AM 2/11/2005, Steve Eiche wrote:
>Bob,
>It sounds like a classic case of worn brushes.  You can either get just 
>the brushes for about $5 and solder them in to the voltage regulator, or 
>just put in a new voltage regulator complete with new brushes for 
><$50.  I'm not sure how easy it is to remove the regulator in situ on an 
>AAN, but it is a fairly easy job on other Audis.  The regulator attaches 
>to the rear of the alternator with two screws.
>
>Steve


Steve/Bob:

The last time that I had to do this, the two screws holding in the brush 
pack wouldn't budge, soaking with penetrating fluid or not.
Tried cutting a slot with a rotary tools and using a BAS (Big @rse 
Screwdriver), resulted in one removed screw and another broken one against 
the alternator body - tried to use an extractor, ending up having to drill 
out the screw and re tap the hole. When I finally got to installing the 
replacement regulator, I made sure to put a little antiseize on the 
replacement screws..

So much for an "easy" job.

BTW, the alternator was rebuilt two years ago, and had the original Bosch 
regulator replaced with a generic one - this is the second car that I got 
less than two years out of a generic brush pack  - I bit the bullet and 
replaced with Bosch ones...ok so far, but much to early to tell what life 
they will have in comparison.

-Peter


1991 200 20v Q Avant Titan Grey
1991 200 20v Q Avant Indigo Mica
1991 90 20v Q Red
1990 CQ silver (awaiting S2 engine transplant)

Chelmsford Ma, USA